There are indications that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) may have placed a security cordon around the former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, including plugging all exit routes in Nigeria, following suspicion that he is planning to flee the country to North Africa.
A report quoting sources at the anti-graft agency, claims that the International Police Organisation (INTERPOL) has been put on red alert in the three North African countries of Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, based on “credible evidence” that he could be heading there, adding that Egypt, Libya and Sudan, were also possible countries he could flee to.
The said source, who was also quoted as saying that the commission could be taking some decisive steps in the coming days to get the former governor face his trial, including storming the Kogi State Government House in Lokoja, where he is believed to be holing up, equally informed that the EFCC is monitoring every of Bello’s moves.
“Ahead of the next hearing of the case, EFCC has activated many options, including taking a concrete action to watch-list Bello in North Africa. We are aware of a botched exit to Morocco via Cameroon. We are determined to stop him from going on exile,” the source was quoted as saying.
He reportedly added: “From Singapore, the EFCC Executive Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede was in Tunisia where he delivered a paper at a session on illicit financial flows. Thereafter, he had a meeting with all the Heads of INTERPOL in North Africa on the intelligence on the ex-governor. He formally asked INTERPOL to place Bello on Red Alert in all North African countries and it was accepted.
“The watch-list has taken immediate effect. He will be arrested in any part of North Africa. We took this step because we are suspecting that he had been bidding time not to be available for arraignment. We expect Bello to be in court to prove his innocence. EFCC has to do its work to avoid bad precedent.”
Adeola Adedipe (SAN), lawyer to the embattled former governor, who is billed to be at the Federal High Court Abuja, on July 17, the first time he would appear physically since the onslaught against him started, had applied to withdraw the matter and have it transferred to Kogi State, where his alleged offence was committed.
Bello is facing a 19-count charge for alleged money laundering, breach of trust and misappropriation of public funds of about N80.2billion, allegations, which he had since denied, but had failed to appear on different dates before Justice Emeka Nwite presiding.
But Adedipe drew the court’s attention to an application before the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for the transfer of charge no: FHC/ABJ/CR/98/2024 to the Federal High Court, Lokoja, adding that the move was pursuant to Section 45 of the Federal High Court Establishment Act.